Japan, you have heard about this country, right? This little country exists in the South Asian region. I know the majority of you know this country due to the entertainment aspect as they are one of the pioneers of shaping your childhood with their cartoons, also known as anime. However, did you know how advanced they are in the aspect of technology, especially in comparison to various first-world or Western countries? Their inventions have not only created a new revolution in the world but also changed the daily lifestyle of the people in a certain way.
Due to the advancement of technology in the country, a common proverb is also used by people that people in that country live ten years in advance of the rest of the world. However, a common question is definitely being arrived in your mind: what are the reasons that made the country so powerful in the field of technology as compared to the rest of the world. One of the main reasons directly lies in their educational aspect.
An educational system that advocates a special field from early grades.
The education management of Japan, which is governed by the government, heavily advocates STEM or Science, Technology, Engineering, and Management courtesies to be learned by the students from their early grades. In this process, the schools also have special programs but in a creative way, which ensures to spark interest among the kids in this particular field, like heavily demonstrating the tough concept of physics, chemistry or engineering through digital classrooms or games. The method of incorporating a physical classroom with this innovative process makes the students learn the tough concepts of this field in an easy way.
However, it can’t be fulfilled properly if the teachers are not qualified enough in this process to teach them this subject. This problem was also effectively solved in this process as the teachers, before being fully incorporated in this field among the students, get training for a long amount of time, which not only enhances their skills and knowledge but also makes them effectively teach the students.
Also, in Japan, the educational management has specifically opened a couple of STEM schools where the children who mainly have a knack towards this field can learn exclusively in a more detailed way about the contents of this field from the age of 5 or 6, which also countries on the massive progression of the technology which currently seen in Japan as they are equipped with a vast amount of knowledge darting their early 20s which in comparison of other students of the rest of the world. Some of the popular STEM schools are:
School Name | Location |
Institute of Science Tokyo High School | Tokyo |
Laurus International School of Science Tokyo | Tokyo |
Tamagawa Academy | Tokyo |
However, not only does the role of the education system have a strong hand in this process, but the geographical reasons are also same way tied to the reason for the rapid technological development in this country.
How geographical factors contributed to Nippon’s to have lead on the advancement of technology
Japan is mainly an island nation; it is a common thing in this country that they see often victims of various earthquakes, typhoons and other natural disasters. This approach has led Japan to develop various things which can serve as a counterattack for natural disasters; the formation of counter attack has led the country to see various innovations in technology.
Moreover, since this country is mainly due to their nature, of island is being isolated from the main Asian continent. This isolation has also led them to heavily put an emphasis on self-sufficiency and reduce their dependency on various countries, which have gone by the face of various technological advancements which have been currently witnessed in this country, which is a land of Buddhist culture. Speaking about the culture, there is also a strong cultural factor you don’t know, which is the response for the country to see massive positive growth in terms of technology.
Why the strong cultural factor has led Japan to prosper in technology
The culture of the country is mainly based on the top 3 religions, which the people here follow that are Shinto, Buddhism and Confucianism; it is also seen that in these religions, there are a couple of common values which has seen. Some of the values were heavily advocated in some religions whereas some of them it is being lowered in terms of comparison. Nevertheless, these values have been stated to lay the foundation of the technological innovation which have been currently seen in Japan.
Religions | Self-Reliance | Direct Approach | Hard Work and Sacrifice | Learning | Group Harmony | Sensual Gratification |
Buddhism | High | High | High | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
Confucianism | Moderate | Moderate | High | High | High | Moderate |
Shintoism | Low | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | High | High |
Many experts stated that developing or third world countries, if they incorporate these values, can also see similar success in their technological aspect. Now, besides culture, the technological advancement of Japan being also can be credited to some historical context primarily the samurai.
How samurais brought a technological revolution in Japan.
It was during the time when the country was being on the Meiji era which was ruled by Emperor Meiji and his dynasty. The Samurai were mainly the advisors of the emperors in this process. It was their input which led the era to prosper with various advancements in technology. One of the main reasons for Japan was to make themselves head to head in terms of Western countries and no longer being called as mainly a place of feudalism.
The main aspect of this process, which was kept in mind, was industrialization. In this process, the country has not only imported various modern industrialized machines from the west but also in this process shared various specialists and engineers from Western countries. Besides that, the country also established their own telephone network, perhaps the first South East Asian country which adopt this system. A massive upgrade regarding technology was given to the military by arranging various coastal defence and battleships, which were exclusively designed by various experts and technicians from countries such as the UK, France etc.
Some inventions of Japan have had a massive impact on the world.
Invention | Year |
Electric Rice Cooker | 1945 |
Bullet Train | 1964 |
Quartz Watch | 1969 |
Tactile Paving | 1965 |
Karaoke | 1971 |
Cassette Player | 1963 |
Washlet | 1980 |
Blue LED | 1994 |
Emoji | 1999 |
DVD | 1995 |
FAQ
What are the key factors that have contributed to technological advancements in this country?
The technological advancements can be attributed to several factors, including its strong education system, government support, corporate culture, collaborative partnerships, adaptability to global trends, focus on quality and efficiency, strong manufacturing base, supportive business environment, long-term vision, and cultural emphasis on precision and detail.
How has the education system played a role in its technological development in this country?
The education system emphasizes STEM subjects from an early age, fostering a culture of innovation and critical thinking among its citizens. The focus on STEM education has produced a highly skilled workforce that is well-equipped to contribute to technological advancements.
What role has the government of this country played in supporting technological development?
The government has played a crucial role by investing in research and development, providing incentives for innovation, and creating a supportive business environment.
How has geography influenced the technological development of this country?
The country’s island nation status and susceptibility to natural disasters have forced the country to become self-sufficient and innovative. This has led to the development of technologies to address these challenges and improve resilience.
What are some of the most significant Japanese inventions?
Some of the most significant inventions include the electric rice cooker, Shinkansen (bullet train), quartz watch, tactile paving, karaoke, cassette player, washlet, blue LED, emoji, and DVD.